As the four of us enter the door which leads to the underground drainage system, we stumbled upon the first (or second, if we consider the smell as problem, which honestly, it does) problem, and that's its way too dark here. Of course, I do expect this kind of situation, so the solution is quite simple, just use a light ball magic to illuminate the surrounding area and

"Heeee!" [Alice]

Alice screams as those large rodents quickly try their best to swarm us only to end up being electrocuted by my thunder magic

"Nice thinking" [Erinmorlin]

"Can't use any other magic can I" [Ash]

This is a small underground pathway, and if I have to consider the poorly maintained state of it, there's a high chance of this entire drainage system to collapse. I might survive the collapse, maybe Erinmorlin can also survive, but I'm sure the other can't. Plus, collapsing the drainage system is definitely a big no as the damage done will be severe. It's no exaggeration to day the whole city/country will be affected by it.

I can't use fire magic, there might be chances of choking due to the accumulated carbon dioxide, I can't use water magic due to fear of overflowing the drainage with water (and also chances of spreading the disease even further). Wind might be an option but strong wind magic will collapse it nevertheless. Earth is a BIG NO. Light and dark might be considered, but I have a tendency to go on a rampage when using it. So the only safe option is to use thunder magic by electrocute those monsters. Just to make it on safer side from now onward, I will be using my Scythe imbued with both lighting as well as water magic. As for the water magic, I make the composition similar to that of a sea water, because Lou Carcolh is basically a giant snail with serpentine features, so I hope my logic of snail being extremely weak to salt water will work

"Two elements imbued simultaneously, It's no exaggeration to say your level of proficiency is similar to that of court magician, plus, when you consider that it's done without any chant, it's really show your magic talent. That's the behemoth slayer for you!" [Lisa]

"The rumour also said that you can use all elemental magic, which is crazy" [Flinar]

"That weapon, it's called a scythe right?" [Erinmorlin]

"It is" [Ash]

Erinmorlin eyes glimmer with interest, I guess dwarf being stereotypically attracted to weapons is true.

As we walk to what we believe as the centre of the system (as scouted through earth sonar magic thanks to Erinmorlin), we encounter two groups of monster. Giant Flies as well as Lou Carcolh totaling around 40 I guess. Flinar and Erinmorlin ready themselves to protect Lisa and Alice, as for me

~Dash~

The Giant Flies try to shoot some nasty substances toward me, but I just slice them before they can even do that, as for the Lou Carcolh, with my Scythe, I simply destroy the hard outer shell, penetrating the soft body and electrocute it. I do notice the area stabbed shrink, as if water being pulled out and drawn into my scythe.

(Perfect, it's working) [Ash]

And in no time, the monsters are defeated. Making a new compartment inside my item box magic, I store those monsters inside to be presented as evidence of negligence

"Let's get going" [Ash]

They nodded. No question asked. I guess this show that they're trusting me.

Still...

"Alice, if this is an adventure request, what rank will it be?" [Ash]

"Let see, you have a request from the king itself, plus, you're also dealing with group of monster which I presume in this case will be at least C as evidence by the number, which will be increasing as we keep ongoing, and also the fact that this request is done on such hazardous environment and difficult circumstances, minimum of B rank will be put" [Alice]

"I see, guess Jacks will be qualified then" [Ash]

"He will" [Alice]

"I believe I already knew the answer, but still, why did you ask her that?" [Flinar]

"Simple, our current objective is to see the condition of the central water magic stone that supply the water for the whole country, monster subjugation comes second. So after seeing the water stone conditions, I'll report it to the king and ask him to request for subjugation of those monsters" [Ash]

"Thought so" [Flinar]

Plus, I can't just go and subjugate each and every monster inside, well I can but no, I won't, it's just tiring and ineffective. I'm sure I will miss one or two, and they will reproduce back in no time, which lead to the same problems once again

.

.

.

There's the second group of monsters. This time, the Lou Carcolhs are happily feasting upon the giant rodents and flies. Oh boy, I'm sure glad those kids aren't here, if not, they will have a nightmare seeing this scene. On other related note, I can vividly imagine Savel using this scene as his reference for his next Illusion magic

And while those monsters are feasting, I simply throw my scythe towards them first for a surprise attack, dash at them, grab back the scythe and make a full 360 degree swings to destroy each one of them. Poor snail, can't even fight back their demise

As we keep ongoing to the center, we noticed something

"The number of Lou Carcolh increase, so does their size" [Alice]

"Could they have a queen nearby?" [Lisa]

"Most likely" [Flinar]

"Fighting a queen Lou Carcolh inside the drainage, that will be no easy task. Need any help?" [Erinmorlin]

"Depends, but let me handle it first" [Ash]

"If you said so" [Erinmorlin]

There are two proverbs here, to many cooks spoiled the broth and also many hands make light work. Both are true but in this case, I guess observing first and decide later will be the best course of action for them

Just as we started to feel bored due to the long walk (well, there are Lou Carcolh attack here and there but all are handled swiftly by me), we finally reached the centre and man, the water magic stone is huge, shining some pale blue colour light as well as pouring stream of water around it, but sadly, the water quality is something to be worried off. One look and I can see it's not recommended to use at all. That magic stone surely have been corrupted somehow. Plus

"There's the queen!" [Alice]

"It's huge" [Lisa]

""Careful"" [Flinar, Erinmorlin]

"I will" [Ash]

If the water magic stone is a size of a small room, the Lou Carcolh Queen will occupy nearly 9/10th of it, which honestly makes it an easy target for me, the problem lies in only the environment

The Queen Lou Carcolh seems to order her underling to make a kamikaze attack, they hurled themselves shell first toward me, with no regards to their safety, and god, I might not have felt a cannon ball being fired at me, but I can say for sure it hits like a cannon. My hand quickly goes full numb just by blocking and smashing those shells. Luckily the chained thunder magic as well as the sea water magic do wonder here.

Still, they also cast some slimy substance towards me, which slow down my movement. A quick analysis by my scan magic revealed that the slimy substance do contain the same microbes that causes the endemic disease. Maybe it's due to their ingestion of the nearby water

(I'm glad I covered myself with cure magic) [Ash]

Just when the seemingly endless barrage of Lou Carcolh of various sizes and weight come to an end (maybe nearing fifty of them), the queen greeted me herself.

Contrary to its size (and also to its species), it sure is fast. The queen is a bit slower as compared to its underling, so it's easier to dodge its attack, but the power behind it is no joke. One slam from its head hold roughly the same forces to that of three medium size Lou Carcolh barrages just now

plus

(If the queen keeps on doing it, the whole structure will collapse, have to finish it fast) [Ash]

With its upcoming attack, I use my scythe to slice both the upper tentacles holding its eyes as well as the numerous tentacles coming from its mouth

In response, it breath out a large amount of poisonous gas, since my body is blessed by the goddess, I don't find it strange if It doesn't cause any sort of illness to me, but those four behind me will surely felt it. Thankfully, Flinar uses his wood magic to neutralise those gas

The second attack come, the queen have regenerated its tentacles back in shape, as if nothing really happen just now.

(This will get tedious) [Ash]

Have to do something fast, or else this structure will really collapse.

Think

Think

Think...

GOT IT!

I have to wait for the poisonous gas attack. No, instead of waiting, let us aggravate it like last time. Slice those nasty tentacles and BINGO

" EAT THIS!" [Ash]

While supplying more of my sea water magic into the scythe, I throw it inside the queen at high velocity. As expected, the slimy substance inside the mouth halted its momentum, but that's exactly what I was hoping for

With this, the sea water being omitted from my scythe will cause the queen to shrunken. As it shrink (and quickly for that matter), it goes on a rampage spree, but the power have been significantly reduced until

"Only the shell and the magic core is left behind" [Ash]

The shell is humongous, and so does the magic core. While the magic core do emit water magic, sadly it also emit poison magic, so obviously we can't use it to replace the corrupted water stone. Well, better store it first

"You sure make it look easy" [Erinmorlin]

"That's an A rank monster there, and yet it's instantly slayed" [Alice]

"If we pitch you to fight the Saga or the Female Paladin Aries, I wonder who will win" [Lisa]

"That's an interesting experiment" [Flinar]

"Let just report first to the king, shall we?" [Ash]